[DISCOVER] Ohope Beach, New Zealand

[Laura2484]

There are some places in this world that leave that impression, where your senses tingle and relish in the present moment. Nau mai haere mai ki Ohope Beach. Welcome to Ōhope Beach, one of New Zealand’s favourite beaches.

In the winter there is quiet, less tourist traffic, less tourist noise, less clutter of things  so the humdrum of our little beachside village is soothing. 

Today you will be one of us and I’m going to take you on our favourite local bush walk.

First thing though: Slip, slop, slap & slurp! Slip on a jacket, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat & bring a bottle of water to slurp if you get thirsty!

This is New Zealand and this slogan is synonymous to our Summer sun smart campaign. Ok, so it is not Summer right now but our best local secret is Ohope Beach which can be enjoyed all year round. So tie your laces and here we go up the stairs to the start of our walk...

It is a crisp 8 degrees and the trail we are on today will encompass the headlands of our coastline, we will hike from Whakatāne to Ōhope Beach along Tois track or also known as  Ngā Tapūwae o Toi (The sacred footsteps of Toi). Toitehuatahi was a Tahitian chief that navigated his way to our shores of Whakatāne and made it his home. Our tribal ancestry throughout New Zealand is often interwoven and it is through listening to the Māori elders that this history is traced and family connections are linked.

Kapūtērangi is the name of the pa site (village) where Toitehuatahi lived, it was strategically placed with 360 degree views spanning over the horizon and land to watch for arrivals. The line of ancestors associated with this site is significant to Māori.

This guardian stands watching over our town and sea. As we wind our way through the bush the bird song is vibrant and your senses are ignited with the smell of native bush, earthy & clean.

Along this ridge line there are also views of our township of Whakatāne, where it is possible to see the boats crossing the sea bar from here.

We are at the top of the headlands and these small rock formations are home to the many sea birds. From time to time seals land here to shelter from rough seas. Ōtarawairere Bay, we are descending into this secluded bay, luckily the tide is not high and we are able to safely cross to the shell lined beach. 

It is so easy to lose track of time when you’re here. During the summer months, people make this trek and spend the day, swimming, relaxing and discovering the sea life in the rock pools or searching for shells. The only way to access this bay is by walking or by sea.

We are making our way to West End beach, there are still a few steps to climb and beautiful vistas to take a few photos.

This is Ohope Beach, our population of just over 3000 locals + you, our Summers draw more than 4000 extras each year. Since the early 1920s til today it still remains one of New Zealnand's favourites. I hope you’ve enjoyed your walk through our varying landscape, when you comeback our next day trip will be along this beach or a night walk to see glow worms and listen for kiwi.

So much to see and explore here in Ohope 🌞⛱

[Lizzie]

Thank you for sharing a little bit of tranquility here @Laura2484. It's beautiful. What a lovely place to live.

I always love asking people who live by the sea if they prefer the sea when it's calm like the above or when there are large waves and it's dramatic? 

[Laura2484]

@Lizzie @Nick @Helen427 

Hi Lizzie,

It is magnetic ,no matter the mood of calm or rage the ocean is equally breathtaking on all occasions. Do you have a preference when you spend time near the water?🌞

[Ria16]

@Laura2484  Such a wonderful place I really love the bird steps :😍KiaOra from Rakiura 

[Laura2484]

@Ria16 

Thanks Ria , Local artwork 

The stairs are a vertigraph of our environment, ‘ Te mana o Papa ‘ (Let the beauty of the earth ) begins with underwater sea life , beach life , wetland, bush land ,sky and then to the stars ape. ‘Hei whakamiharotanga ‘ ( lift your heart in wonder)

So the appeal is when you look at it from a distance, it appears as a complete picture 👍🏾

[Laura2484]

Oops , starscape ... ✨💫

[Nick]

I'd like to thank you also @Laura2484. Not just for all the work that went into it, but because this couldn't come in a better time for two team members. Kind of stranded and with some not-so-good news from the other side of Europe, this virtual, mind journey to the other part of the world was exactly what needed. 

[Laura2484]

@Nick 

thanks for asking me to contribute. I spent hours enjoying National Geographic over the years  where  one could escape in the pages of beautiful photography and the exotic world of colours & flavours.  The best way to virtual travel even on a lunch break! Hope all goes well with your colleagues.👍🏾

[Essaouira-Beachlife-Moro0]

@Laura2484 ... simply wonderful! Thank you for share this beauty on the community. That's for me a very nice memorie from NZ. With my husband we spend 35 days on 2017 and more than 10.000 km by car . It was during you summer season. When I can see again some pictures from this far country I can feel again this feeling of freedom and humility. In front of this spectacular nature, we are really small . Thank's again and take care of you all. Edith from Morocco with Love

[Laura2484]

@Essaouira-Beachlife-Moro0 

Hi Edith, thank you for your message -Wow 10,000km travelling around NZ that is indeed impressive . If I asked you to name your most favourite spot to visit , or if you were to recommend to your friends a place to visit , ‘Where would that be?’

Enjoy your memories of NZ.

Stay well🌞

[Essaouira-Beachlife-Moro0]

@Laura2484 

Hi Laura...

Yes a lot of kms ... but when you see one place, you want to discovery another one ... we like that. In our travels, never we stay more than 3 nights on the same place

My most favourite spot to visit ?

This question is very difficult to answer. NZ is beautiful everywhere ... however, it was in Doubtful Sound in the Fjords region where I had tears of emotion. Especially when we arrived in a cove called by the Captain of the boat: the Sound of Silence. It was a rainy day obviously 🙂 , very gray with a lot of wind ... and, arrived there, it was, the calm of the water, no more wind, complete silence, just this creek sunk in the fjord with the flow of water on the rock walls all around us ... like a parenthesis out of time and out of the Earth. It's a place and a feeling that I will never forget.

[Laura2484]

@Essaouira-Beachlife-Moro0 

That’s amazing Edith, no doubt your family & friends have got that on their place to visit.

Some places just captivate  ‘The colours of Autumn through Otago to Queenstown- the cool freshness and vibrancy of hues is simply stunning also’

Thanks for sharing your special place & memory👍🏾

Stay well🌞

[Essaouira-Beachlife-Moro0]

It was a pleasure! Queenstown is my husband's favorite city. He loved it. You have hundreds of other beautiful landscapes. I have over 850 photos of your country after selecting the best 🙂 So I have great memories that I can relive from time to time. All the best for you all.

[Laura2484]

Winter morning looking over Ōhope Beach

@Essaouira-Beachlife-Moro0 @Nick @Ria16 @Helen427 @Lizzie @Katie 

 A winter morning looking over Ōhope Beach. 

[Ria16]

@Laura2484  So gorgeous and my first North island sunrise for a week. :): Just home from a blissful week away  where the Rakiura tokoeka don’t go to bed until around 8am as it’s still so very dark xx 

@Essaouira-Beachlife-Moro0  and wow that stunner of Doubtful. Still have not been there yet. But I will try for spring maybe .